Maharashtra government staff wants five-day week

Maharashtra Government staff today asked Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to implement the five-day week concept in the state administration.

"The Central Government has a five-day week. Almost all other states have a five-day week. We feel that Maharashtra should also have the same," GD Kulthe, general secretary of the Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers' Federation, said at a function held to mark 26 years of the Federation.

Chavan and Pawar were present on the occasion.

"I can assure you that the productivity will improve and we are willing to put in 45 minutes of extra work daily," Kulthe said.

He also sought the assistance of Rs10 crore from the state government for construction of a new office building for the Federation.

"We have already collected Rs two crore for the purpose. We request the Finance Minister to make a provision for the funds in the next budget," he said.

A people-centric attitude of the government and the bureaucracy was essential to provide an effective and transparent administration, Chavan said.

Disparities in wage fixation of the state government staff would be resolved, he said.

The government would adopt a positive attitude on the issue of enhanced pension for former state government staff in the 80-100 years bracket, he said.

Prompt decision-making is essential considering the expectations people have from the administration, Pawar said.